Metal content and toxicity of produced formation water (PFW): study of the possible effects of the discharge on marine environment

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2007 Aug;53(2):183-90. doi: 10.1007/s00244-006-0098-z. Epub 2007 Jun 2.

Abstract

A preliminary chemical and ecotoxicological assessment was performed on the produced formation water (PFW) and superficial sediment around a gas platform (Fratello Cluster), located in the Adriatic Sea (Italy), in order to evaluate the effects of PFW discharged from the installation. The ecotoxicological bioassays, with the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, were associated with chemical data to estimate the possible effects on living organisms. PFW collected on the platform was toxic, but no significant effect was recorded on marine sediment. Only the sediment station nearest to the discharge point showed higher values of some contaminants (zinc and arsenic) in comparison to other sites and only some stations showed low toxicity.

MeSH terms

  • Aliivibrio fischeri / drug effects*
  • Aliivibrio fischeri / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Arsenic / analysis
  • Arsenic / toxicity*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / embryology
  • Embryonic Development / drug effects
  • Geologic Sediments / analysis
  • Industrial Waste / adverse effects
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis
  • Metals, Heavy / toxicity*
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Petroleum*
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Sea Urchins / drug effects*
  • Sea Urchins / embryology
  • Sea Urchins / physiology
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

  • Industrial Waste
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Petroleum
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Arsenic